I can’t shake this nagging feeling that we are going to be stuck with another four years of Republican misrule, no matter which of our candidates wins the nomination. This has been worrying me for months and months, and it seems to be playing out just like the worst case scenarios my fevered imagination has dreamed up since Barack Obama emerged on the presidential campaign scene. Hillary Clinton’s ambitions were clear much earlier, so I’ve had a lot more time to worry about her as a candidate, but Barack’s arrival really ramped up the anxiety level.

Before you beat me to a cyberpulp or deem me a concern troll, let me explain. I’m a diehard Democrat who will gladly vote for whoever wins the nomination. I’m also glad that my primary is done, though my guy dropped out before I got the chance to vote for him. And I am just absolutely sick at the thought that Democrats are busily handing McSame all the ammunition he’s going to need to sink our hopes of reclaiming our country in November.

In a piece entitled (appropriately enough) "Answering to No One" in Sunday's Washington Post, former Vice President Walter Mondale discusses the evolution of the office of the Vice President

from the backwater of American politics to the second most powerful position in our government.  

According to Mr. Mondale, most of the changes that have come about, regardless of the party in power, have been positive ones.  That is,

until now. Under George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, it has gone seriously off track.

I highly recommend you go read the whole thing now, if you haven't already.

I'm numb.

My son called a couple of hours ago to deliver some very bad news: A CT scan shows that he has a mass on his cerebellum that may be a tumor. He has all the classic symptoms, blinding headaches, vision trouble, fatigue, the lot. Waiting now for an MRI sometime this week to confirm the diagnosis. He lives hours away, and he doesn't want me to come. Not yet anyway. He's a 29 year old single dad with custody of 2 of his 3 kids. Says he has to keep going as though everything's normal. He's right, but my heart is breaking because I'm not there.

And I'm angry as hell. Not just because this is my child I'm talking about. No, his story illustrates what can happen when children don't have access to adequate health and dental care.

There's more...

As one of only two Democrats in my family, I've learned not to engage family members in discussions of anything important. You know, things such as disaster response, the invasion and occupation of Iraq, unfettered presidential power, energy policy, climate change, stuff like that. They all subscribe to the Bill-O school of debate: whomever shouts the loudest wins. They refuse to deal in facts, and I know they aren't the slightest bit interested in hearing anything that might contradict the right-wing talking points they so avidly consume, so I usually just keep my mouth shut (other than the occasional well-timed snort of disgust).

But I had the devil in me yesterday, apparently.  There's more if you're interested...

As promised, here’s my report on Al Gore’s appearance yesterday at the University of Oklahoma.  The event was every bit as exciting as I expected, so let me tell you all about it.  I know other Okie Kossacks in attendance have already diaried the details of his talk, but I want to share my personal impressions and experiences.  I hope you’ll follow me below the fold.

More...

On Thursday, March 1, my hero Al Gore will venture into the wilds of Giant SUV Land to deliver a presentation on global climate change.  He will appear at the Lloyd Noble Center in Norman at 4:00 p.m. (doors open at 3:00).

More below...

Clever girl that I am, I subscribed to Ernest Istook's campaign e-newletter so I could keep track of what he's up to in his bid to be Oklahoma's next governor.  A few weeks ago, I got a notice that Karl Rove was coming to help raise money for Istook's campaign, a sure sign of desperation given that Istook was trailing Brad Henry, our widely popular incumbent, by anywhere from 21 to 26 points, depending on the poll.

Well, Karl's magical presence didn't help narrow the gap at all.  In fact, the latest SurveyUSA poll has Henry doubling up on Istook by a margin of 64 to 32 (Lt. Governor looks good for us, too, with Democrat Jari Askins now leading Republican Todd Hiett 52-42 - hooray!).

So what's Istook to do?  Play on fear and xenophobia, of course!

More below...

Last week I received an email from the gubernatorial campaign of Ernest Istook notifying me of an upcoming fund-raising visit by Karl Rove.  Istook, OK-5's congresscritter since 1992, is challenging the very popular Democratic incumbent Brad Henry.  According to the email,

Without a doubt Rove's trip for Congressman Istook sends a message that he will be the next Governor of Oklahoma.  Get on board now, while you still can.

Oh, really?  Methinks thou dost have WAY too much confidence in Rove's powers, at least in this race.

More below...

Several weeks ago, I wrote Senator James Inhofe (R-OK - gawd, I'm sorry, rest of the country - I tried my best) regarding some  piddly little concerns I have about unimportant topics such as the environment and his pro-business stance on all related issues.  Now I know that my name must surely strike fear into the hearts of his staff (oh, nooooo, here's another one from that batshit crazy lib'rul woman), but they always make SUCH an admirable effort to respond to my concerns.

Trouble is, it takes some serious reading between the lines to really understand just what it is they're trying to say to me.  But after several years of this kind of fun and games, I think I've got it figured out.

So here's my translation of the latest missive from Senator Global Warming is a Hoax.  Ya'll enjoy!

It's tough being blue in a determinedly red state.  Most people, including my elected officials, really have no interest in anything I have to say.  Not that it's stopped me, though.  

Even though I know it's mostly a waste of time, I've been corresponding with my Congressman, Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), on a variety of topics since his election.  I have yet to get a straight answer from him on anything.  Usually I just chock it up to "politics as usual," and go rantingly about my business, but this time I decided to call him on it.

There's more...

Oh, joy of joys!  The Decider in Chief will honor our state with his presence Saturday when he gives the commencement address at Oklahoma State University.  Apparently Oklahoma is one of the few places where he can still feel assured of a warm welcome.

Well, not so fast, sir.  You just might be surprised...

Yesterday I stayed home in solidarity.  All day.  Didn't shop, didn't go to school, didn't do any work.  Sat on the front porch listening to the silence:  no lawn mowers, no wood chippers, very few cars speeding down the raceway our street usually is on a normal day.   I couldn't believe how quiet it was.  Even the noise we can usually hear from the elementary and middle schools just a block or two away was eerily muted.  I felt good that, even here in the heart of redstateland, at least some people were taking a stand for their beliefs.